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Ted, congratulations on a sensational year. You, the front office staff and Gabby & the boys have every reason to have your heads up — you made us proud. Thank you.
Ted,
I have been a Capitals fan since I was in third or fourth grade. I enjoyed watching those teams with Langway, Hunter, Gustefsen, Gartner, Courtnal, and Stevens. However, this year and especially since Bruce Boudreau was put in place I would have to say that this is the most exciting Caps team that I have ever watched. So much so that my wife, who hates sports, became a fan. I feel that last nights loss, while heart breaking, is only a temporary set back. For this young core that you and George McPhee have put together. I must commend both of you for doing an oustanding job and staying the course in building such an exciting team. If there were a guide published on how to rebuild a team you both should have several chapters dedicated to the exemplary job you guys did. Thank you for putting a team together that Capitals fans can enjoy and be proud of.
Rob Martin
Rockville, MD
Ted,
I just wanted to congratulate you on a truly AWESOME Caps’ season. All the waiting has payed off and your young team is finally starting to mature. The core of this team is strong and I foresee some great years to come. Alex Ovechkin is the best and most exciting player in hockey period.
I moved out of DC to NYC just prior to the playoffs after 15 years of being a Washingtonian and Caps’ fan. I will continue to route for you and the team from NY and wish you all the luck in the future.
Thank you so much for your hard work in getting the Caps back on track and for your dedication to the best sport in the world. Also, thanks for proving that Washington can be a great hockey town because it has great fans! All the best!!!
-Carlo
Mr. Leonsis
I would like to thank you and the Washington Capitals organization for beeing such a class act. The video online and the thank you email I received as a ticket holder were very nice. (I do not believe other sports teams would have done that.)
I am looking forward to next season. See you in October.
Ted,
It makes me happy seeing you so successful. But I knew you would be. There is a magic about you. You have that deep down drive that I used to envy, but now use to charge me when I feel as though I do not have what it takes to reach my goals. You take lemons, make lemonade, sell it and then start selling lemonade franchises.
Thanks!
Ted: I am another “Lowell boy” - Lowell High, Lowell State (now UMass/Lowell), and retired Foreign Service Officer. My last overseas tour was at our Embassy in Beijing. When I first saw NANKING on TV, and then noticed YOUR name in the credits, I wondered if it could be the same Ted who is (also) from Lowell. Congratulations, Ted, on producing a hard-hitting story that begged to be on film. I have spent a lot of time in both Japan and China, your film is important to both.
All the best …
Hi Ted. Although this season is just finished, I am eagerly looking forward to next season, hence, I decided to buy season tickets to a team who has been clsoe to me for a long lomng time now. We look like we will have a team that can contend for the cup next year, as long as the goaltender question is resolved….you know Marc-andre Fleury will be a restricted free agent….and with penguins having significant cap problems and 2 pretty good goalies to take his spot, that would be a great signing….
regards
Jan
Ted, Belated congrats on a great season with the Caps. (I’ve been a critic in the past.) But a quick question: Are you the same fellow who wrote a book on IBM back in the early 1980’s? I was working as a business reporter in Boston…and vaguely remember it. Were you in Boston at that time? Were you at Lotus or Wang or some other firm up there? Just wondering. And continued good luck!
Greetings Mr. Leonsis!
It is an honor & pleasure to be able to communicate with you, sir.
I am an avid filmmaker and am pleased as punch that you are a documentary film producer and getting into documentary film distribution too. This is a GREAT move for the film industry all over.
I’ve been trying to promote your website to friends. Do your company participate in any film festivals wherein your documentary distribution site is promoted?
I would love to speak with the appropriate person in speaking of your goals regarding this site.
Best regards!
Ros Mickens
Hi Ted,
I just want to take the time to say that it’s an honor to actually share my opinions with you and to actually talk to you. You and Pat Vanderbeek are the only 2 owners that actually care about the fans and what they think. I want to thank you for that. Now, for my opinion on the Capitals. Ted, you do know how to build an exciting team, and thanks to you, the Capitals are the most exciting team in Hockey. But I hate to tell you this Ted, but in my opinion, your team is far from perfect. Now, it’s time for me to tell you what I’d do if I were the GM of your Capitals!
Goalie Zone
Jose Theodore rejuvenated his career with a 2nd-half surge in Colorado last year! He is a huge up-grade from Cristobal Huet due to the fact that Theodore has the talent and potential to be one of the NHL’s top goalies, but he hasn’t shown enough consistency in the NHL. We’ll see how he does for the Capitals this season.
Simeon Varlamov has promise, but he needs time to develope!
Brent Johnson is a capable backup, but do you really want Johnson to be your #1 go-to guy between the pipes if (God forbid) Theodore goes down? I don’t! I’d trade Brent Johnson to the New York Islanders for Joey MacDonald!
JDB’s Capitals Goalies
JOEY MacDONALD
JOSE THEODORE
SIMEON VARLAMOV
Defense
No offense Ted, but this defense does not scare me. You need some toughness on your defense. Karl Alzner, John Carlson, Joe Finley (I like this kid), and Sami Lepisto provide hope for the future. Mike Green was a huge surprise last year, proving to be one of the best offensive defensemen in the game! Tyler Sloan is a gritty 2-way defenseman who is mysteriously stuck in Hershey. Tom Poti is a decent offensive defenseman. Jeff Schultz is a defensive defenseman with size to boot, but he’s soft and plays a passive game. Schultz needs to develop a mean streak! Brian Pothier is damaged goods. John Erskine, Milan Jurcina, and Shaone Morrisonn are big-time disapointments! I’d trade John Erskine to New Jersey for Vitaly Vishnevski, trade Brian Pothier to the New York Rangers for Darius Kasparaitis, and trade Milan Jurcina & Shaone Morrisonn to Ottawa for Matt Carkner & Anton Volchenkov!
JDB’s Capitals Defense
KARL ALZNER
MATT CARKNER
JOHN CARLSON
JOE FINLEY
MIKE GREEN
DARIUS KASPARAITIS “A”
SAMI LEPISTO
TOM POTI
JEFF SCHULTZ
TYLER SLOAN
VITALY VISHNEVSKI
ANTON VOLCHENKOV
Left Wingers
Chris Bourque is undersized, but he’s a gritty kid who’s ready and eager to play in the NHL. Donald Brashear is the best fighter in pro hockey today who is the 1st to protect his teammates. Brashear is also pro hockey’s most underrated player with Mark Messier-like leadership to boot. So, why is Donald Brashear not the Captain of your Capitals Ted? Alexander Ovechkin may be the REAL “Next One” unlike Sidney Crosby. Brooks Laich did a good job last season for the Capitals, so let’s see if he can keep it up! Eric Fehr might loose “NHL Prospect” tag for “AHL Star” or “ECHL Superstar” label(s). Tomas Fleishmann and Quintin Laing are disapointing underachievers! I’d trade Quintin Laing to Toronto for Mark Bell and Tomas Fleischmann to Pittsburgh for Tyler Kennedy!
JDB’s Capitals Left Wingers
MARK BELL
CHRIS BOURQUE
DONALD BRASHEAR “C”
ERIC FEHR
TYLER KENNEDY
BROOKS LAICH
ALEXANDER OVECHKIN “A”
Centers
Nicklas Backstrom, Alexandre Giroux, Anton Gustafsson, and Kyle Wilson have great raw offensive skills and provide hope for the future! Michael Nylander is a master at winning faceoffs and when it comes to passing, he’s one of the best assist-men ever! Sergei Fedorov is a has-been, but at least he does provide a Stanley Cup winning veteran presence (I just hope you’re not over-paying this bum Ted). Keith Aucoin and David Steckle are worthless. I’d trade Keith Aucoin to Calgary for a conditional 2009 draft pick, then sign UFA Billy Tibbetts and trade David Steckle to Boston for Wacey Rabbit and (TRY TO GET OUT OF BOSTON) a conditional 2009 draft pick.
JDB’s Capitals Centers
NICKLAS BACKSTROM
SERGEI FEDOROV
ALEXANDRE GIROUX
ANTON GUSTAFSSON
MICHAEL NYLANDER
WACEY RABBIT
BILLY TIBBETTS
KYLE WILSON
Right Wingers
Alexander Semin is a true-blue talent who can make something out of nothing in a hurry! Viktor Kozlov is a steady and reliable all-around forward who can play all 3 forward positions. Francois Bouchard is a star in the making who can provide hope for the future. Oskar Osala is doing OK for Blues Espoo (FHL), but how will he adjust to the NHL? Matt Bradley, Chris Clark, and Boyd Gordon are worthless. I’d trade Chris Clark to New Jersey for Michael Rupp, trade Matt Bradley & Boyd Gordon to Toronto for Jiri Tlusty, then sign UFA Pavel Brendl.
JDB’s Capitals Right Wingers
FRANCOIS BOUCHARD
PAVEL BRENDL
VIKTOR KOZLOV
OSKAR OSALA
MICHAEL RUPP
ALEXANDER SEMIN
JIRI TLUSTY
Well Ted, thanks for your time and please tell me what you think by e-mailing me back? If your curious to know why I’d make these moves, I’ll be more than happy to tell you why. Thanks again Ted and God Bless You and your family!
Joey Dylan Biase
PS- Hardcore hockey fans are the best GMs! Just something to think about Ted, just incase you want to make history by hiring a hardcore hockey fan to be your GM of the Washington Capitals.
I and my two sons are season ticket holders and when we come to see a game it is a 500 mile trip each way. I want to know when this team will get the two scoring right wings that are need for the first and second lines. Ticket holders pay a great deal of money and for me I am tired of the lame excuses about what this team needs to be competitive every night. All teams have to do is focus on are two best scores and they shut down the offense of both lines. With the right people to man the right wing for each line , our offense would increase because the other teams would have to play all three member on both lines. Your general manager loves to draft defenseman for which we now have more than can play and sign wingers that could not put a puck in the ocean. This attitude of not addressing the foward lines with quality wingers that can score is unacceptable. Iam tired of seeing muckers and grinders on the scoring lines.Do the loyal fans,for which I have been for the caps first year,and address this need. Also, if these goalies cannot not Play like number one’s then get one that can. These goalies seem to have a problem of stopping puck and are letting all the other players and coaches down. I want something done because I am tired of seeing this team continue to lose because you and the general mananger will not fix what is wrong. In tonights game the first two periods show the weakness of this team and it is very hard for me to watch them play on center ice. You have my emai address so I expect to hear back from you about my concerns.
Dear Mr. Leonsis,
My wife and I are season ticket holders and we want you to know how much we appreciate all that you and your entire staff have done to make the CAPS a top notch organization. I do have one comment to make and it is in regard to the merchandise store in Verizon Center. I’m having the hardest time finding bumper stickers or magnets for our automobiles. I would love to advertise to all of Virginia and DC that we are CAPS crazy but so far no luck. I’m not a marketing/advertising guy but it seems to me there would be a lot of demand for some great CAPS bumper stickers. Thanks again for all you do. Randy and Sharon Hall
Dear Ted,
I have bee a hockey fan since the early 70s. I have never seen a more exciting team than the Caps, that you and George built for us. You made a promise to Caps fans and you more than kept it. We love you Ted.
Thanks!!!
Dear Ted, I have noticed looking around the league that several teams now have cheerleaders; I’m wondering if you & the front office staff have any plans to bring that to your loyal fans here in Washington. Been a Caps fan since they came to town in the 70’s and live literally ten minutes from where the Cap Centre used to stand. Attended the draft that brought Alex O to town and couldn’t be happier that he’s become the best player in the league! Keep up the good work and one day…… soon…..you’ll be sporting the most treasured ring in all of professional sports. Sincerely, Couch
Ted,
Here’s how a Caps fan proposes - with a customized Caps jersey with her future name on it. And a ring. Thanks for the great year and all the years my fiancee and I will enjoy to come.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=kikusan78&target=ALBUM&id=5302313066373487409&authkey=U4FkUhZv4NQ&invite=CJez5-oM&feat=email
Ted,
As a long time fan of the Capitals, I want to say what a great job you have done with the team. After being on this earth for 36 years, this is the first year I have ever wanted to and been able purchase season tickets, so today I bought them… Woohoo!!!! All I can say is thank you for giving DC the best sporting experience, and making Washington DC and the Metro area the new “Hockey Town”!!! We love the CAPS!!!!
Hi Ted,
I have been going to Caps games since the 70’s. (admittedly to see my Dad’s beloved Bruins). After spending the last five years overseas, I couldn’t wait to attend the opening game this season. It was a blast!!! You have put a great team together as well as making the game experience FANtastic. In addition, you are one of the great owners in professional sports and deserve praise and the winning team you’ve assembled. I could not be prouder as a Caps fan or more happy for an owner. Bask in the glory and continue to enjoy the season with the rest of us. God bless you for your vision and perserverance. I can’t wait until you can do the same for the Wizards.
Hi Ted,
First off congrats on your season. As a gal form Boston who loves hockey I realize this year must have made you very proud.
How does one find out more about snagfilms.com? I have a very big interest in film (I just moved here to Dc form LA where I worked in the entertianment industry) and was very curious about your “filmanthropy” and was looking for a way to get involved. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Laura
Ted,
Help!!! The playoffs are on VS and not Comcast Sports Net. I dont get VS and its an upgrade I cant afford. Why the switch? I have watched 70 games and have been blessed to go to one at the Verizon Centre with 2 of my sons and my father. (Caps and Pens). The season is over for my sons and I since we cant watch it. What do we do now?
Please buy DC United and keep them in the DC metro area by getting a stadium built.
Hello Ted,
Really like this new goaltending coach, Dave was great and he is such a class act, family are important and I respect is decision. Mr. Irbe sounds so knowledgeable and bring that European flair and the ability to communicate in several language that will probably be so beneficial to our young goalies. I think it is also a great decision to have Jose has the starting goalie, he did get the team to the playoff and a division victory, his experience is so valuable and I think he was also a class act thru the play off with Varlamov, he was supportive and helpful to this young goalie even in his adverse position….
I believe all players are humans and they will have their great ans not so great moment in their career.
I would like you to know that you and the team have help my daughter and myself get through some really rough and devastating time in our lives and as long time fans we immersed ourselves in the game and the team, and helped us deal with our personal lives issues and created this incredible bond with my daughter. We can’t wait for the season to start.
Hoping to meet you around the VC
Thank you
Sylvia
I must admit- I am impressed. Any tips for a struggling wannabe?
Ted – my son played on the Wootton High School state championship hockey team last year. They are doing a fundraiser at Verizon Center on October 8, 2009 where they will be selling programs to raise money. Unfortunately for the team, unlike prior years, they are having difficulty getting $20 tickets to the game since the Caps have been playing at such a high level.
Do you have any influence in this area so the boys can sell programs and then watch periods 2 and 3 of the game from inexpensive seats?
Thanks in advance. I can be reached at BGreenfest@SantosPostal.com.
Ted,
Help us Marylander’s out that have Verizon Fios…I’ve missed three games on TV now because of the Wizards and now the Terps BAsketball. We aren’t offered CSN+…
Mr. Leonsis,
I will be departing for Iraq just prior to the end of this season. I will be gone for about a year so I won’t be atending any of the games at VC. I have been following the Caps since the Langway days when I came home from Active Duty and I would consider myself as a loyal fan of your team. The Caps are not available regularly on Armed Forces Network. Is there a way that you could make them available to military service people who are deployed to Iraq/Afghanistan. I don’t want to find out about our team winning the Cup by reading http://www.washingtonpost.com. I want to enjoy the action first hand or at least on a delayed basis.
Please help!
VR
Merle DeLancey